FARES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 140, 10 December 1935, Page 8

FARES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l am writing to ask if you have the time or the desire to champion a matter which has been on my mind for some time. It is a question of children's concession fares on our railways, buses, and Wellington trams. The age for concessions appears to be fixed at under 12 years.: This limit evidently was decided upon many years ago, when children started work at 12 years of age. Owing'to the present school leaving age being increased to 15 years and the unfortunate position of many of our boys and girls who are; unable to.obtain work, I,think it only right that these concessions should be increased to this age. You will agree with me, I feel, certain, that if this could be arranged the revenue of pur railways, trams, and other public conveyances would be increased, especially during the holiday period, as no doubt many people stay at home because the cost of travelling of one or two children between the ages of 12 and 15 is prohibitive.

Apart from the holiday benefits, it is hard on parents who have to pay full fares on" the trams, etc., for boys and girls who have to go into the city in search of work, oftentimes without success. Should these concessions ,be obtained perhaps the theatres and other places of entertainment would follow and so help to relieve the higher cost of living and burden of taxation which the family man has'to bear. —I am, etc.,